CONTROL APPARATUS WITH AUDIBLE DISPLAY

Abstract: A temperature and/or humidity controller has the facility to emit a mono-frequency sound sequence indicating the controller set value, or a change to the set value. This is particularly valuable to a visually-impaired person.

Description: Control Apparatus wi th Audi bl e Di spl ay The present invention relates to apparatus for a temperature and/or humidity controller. Audible information signals or messages are commonly used in heating systems or other domestic eguipment. For example, in one form of domestic heating system controller having a touch key-pad of buttons to make adjustments to the programmed values, the controller emits one burst of sound of a predetermined frequency each time a button is depressed to acknowledge that the instruction or value has been input. In GB Patent Specification No. 2252846A, there is disclosed a central heating and hot water control system in the operation of which an audible warning is used to indicate when a HIGH temperature value has been reached. British Patent Specification No. 2074346 discloses a washing machine having a voice synthesizer chip to produce verbal messages indicating the program options available at a given stage. In US Patent 4768926 a remote control for a fan provides audible signals to distinguish which of three switches (corresponding to different fan speeds) has been actuated. The audible signals for the respective switches differ by the tones employed or by the number of the same tone. The present invention provides apparatus for inputting instructions to a temperature and/or humidity control system, the apparatus comprising at least one button means to input instructions to the control system, characterised by means to emit a plurality of different substantially mono-frequency sounds and means to output one of a plurality of predetermined sequences of two or more said sounds in accordance with the instructions inputted. In this way, the invention can provide a low-cost way (e.g. without the use of a voice-synthesizer chip) whereby a person utilising the apparatus receives an audible signal concerning the instructions, this being particularly valuable to a visually-impaired person for whom it may be difficult or impossible to read a visual display or setting. Also, the invention can provide substantial information in a given sequence effectively and efficiently. A substantially mono-frequency sound may comprise a tone or sound with a fundamental frequency (sine wave) and harmonics resulting from the non-sinusoidal waveshape generated by a microprocessor (normally close to square) and the frequency response characteristic of a transducer (e.g. piezo-electric sounder or similar) . The sequences of sounds can have a variety of meanings, for example some may correspond to an indication of the present setting and/or an indication of a change being/to be made, and/or some responding to the instructions input by answering a question posed by the instructions input. The sequences of sounds may have a variety of lengths of various mono-frequencies and the separation between sounds may vary or may have substantially no separation between them. Other musical characteristics of notes may also be utilised. A sequence of sounds may be of substantially progressively increasing frequency and/or a sequence may be of substantially progressively decreasing frequency. In order to economise on the number of mono-frequencies required, not every sequential sound in a substantially increasing (or decreasing) sequence needs to exceed (or be less than) the previous one, e.g. there may be, in a sequence two successive sounds of the same mono-frequency. Two or more substantially mono-frequency sounds in a sequence may have substantially no separation between them, thus the sequence appears to the normal human ear to be continuous; in an alternative, two or more such sounds may overlap so that the sequence is continuous. The button means may be any appropriate arrangement whereby a user can input physically data or instructions into the apparatus, for example one or more buttons or keys, a keyboard, a touch pad or screen. The apparatus may be remote from the control system and/or the temperature or humidity system. The present invention also provides a temperature and/or humidity control system comprising at least one button means to input instructions to the control system, characterised by means to emit a plurality of different substantially mono-frequency sounds and means to output one of a plurality of predetermined sequences of two or more said sounds in accordance with the instructions inputted. The present invention may also provide apparatus for inputting instructions to a control system, the apparatus comprising at least one button means to input instructions to the control system characterised by means to emit a plurality of different substantially mono-frequency sounds and means to output one of a plurality of predetermined sequences of two or more said sounds in accordance with the instruction inputted. Thus, the present invention is also applicable to control systems for other equipment e.g. domestic appliances, washing machines, dish-washers, ovens, microwave ovens and fans. In order that the invention may more readily be understood, a description is now given, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure la is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure lb is a block diagram of another embodiment of the invention; Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are timing diagrams of example sequences for the Setpoint Increase and Decrease buttons; Figure 3 is a timing diagram of an example burst for the Setpoint Preset button; Figure 4a is a timing diagram of an example sequence for the Setpoint Inquiry button indicating the setpoint is equal to the present value; Figure 4b is a timing diagram of an example sequence for the Setpoint Inquiry button indicating that the setpoint is more than the preset value; and Figure 4c is a timing diagram of an example sequence for the Setpoint Inquiry button indicating that the setpoint is less than the preset value. Figure la shows a temperature controller with facilities to assist the visually-impaired in adjusting the room temperature setpoint. The buttons used for adjusting the setpoint have tactile identification to facilitate location of the button. Distinct audible tones or tone sequences confirm the action taken when the button is pressed and provide feedback of the setpoint value. The controller consists of: a) a keypad (1) b) a microcontroller (2) c) a sounder (3) d) a display (4) e) an interface to heating/cooling apparatus (5) . The microcontroller 2 performs the user interface functions and performs the temperature control functions; in an alternative shown in Figure lb, the microcontroller 12 is connected to another microcontroller unit 16 which performs some or all of the temperature control functions. There are four buttons used for adjusting the setpoint, arranged in a group on the keypad 1 or 11; the buttons being 1) the Setpoint Increase button, 2) the Setpoint Decrease button, 3) the Setpoint Preset button, 4) the Setpoint Inquiry button The buttons have easily identified embossed patterns to identify their function, examples of these being an "up" arrow for Increase, a "down" arrow for Decrease, a "square" for Preset and a "circle" for Inquiry. The display 4 or 14 shows a temperature value which is either the current room temperature or the current setpoint value. In normal operation, the room temperature is displayed but when any of the four buttons listed are pressed, the value changes to the current setpoint, reverting to room temperature 10 seconds after the last button press. The four buttons operate in the following way:- 1. Setpoint Increase and Decrease buttons; On the first press of either the Setpoint Increase or Decrease button the microcontroller 2 or 12 sends instructions for a single short tone burst to the sounder 3 or 13 and the current setpoint is displayed but not altered. Figure 2a shows a timing diagram of an example sequence. On subsequent presses of one of these buttons, the following as appropriate occurs:- Setpoint Increase button - On each press the microcontroller sends instructions for a sequence of two tone bursts to the sounder 3 or 13, the frequency of the second tone being greater than the first tone. The setpoint increases by 0.5 on each press of the button, the new value being displayed. Figure 2b shows a timing diagram of an example sequence. Setpoint Decrease button - On each press the microcontroller sends instructions for a sequence of two tone bursts to the sounder 3 or 13 , the frequency of the second tone being less than the first tone. The setpoint decreases by 0.5 degree on each press of the button, the new value being displayed. Figure 2c shows a timing diagram of an example sequence. In a second alternative arrangement, on the first press of either the Setpoint Increase or Decrease button, the microcontroller 2 or 12 sends instructions for a sequence equivalent to a Setpoint Inquiry button press rather than a single short tone burst. In this way, the visually-impaired user is made aware of the setpoint just as the sighted person is via the display. In a third arrangement, on the first press of either the Setpoint Increase or Decrease button, the mircocontroller 2 or 12 operates in the same way as if the Setpoint Preset button had been pressed, setting the setpoint to the Preset value. A variant of this arrangement eliminates the Setpoint Preset Button as its function is performed by the Increase or Decrease Button. In a fourth arrangement, with the Setpoint Increase and Decrease button operating as in the previous-arrangement, the Setpoint Preset button is used by the visually-impaired person to alter the Preset value. This is done by pressing the Setpoint Preset button after the current setpoint has been altered to the desired preset value using the Setpoint Increase or Setpoint Decrease buttons. When the Setpoint Preset button is pressed, the Preset value becomes the current setpoint value and the microcontroller 2 or 12 sends to the sounder instructions for a single tone burst of a duration longer than the single tone bursts or the Increase/Decrease sequences. Thereafter, any Increase/Decrease operations are relative to the new Preset Value and the number of tone burst sequences emitted in a Setpoint enquiry relate to this temperature. This arrangement has the advantage of offering greater flexibility to the visually-impaired user but implies the need to remember the Preset value. In this mode of operation the Preset value is operating more as a Reference value. A fifth alternative arrangement uses the Setpoint Increase and Decrease buttons operating as in the first or second arrangement and uses a separate button with the function of the Preset Button in the fourth arrangement. This combines the advantages of all the above schemes, but complicates the operation a little for the visually-impaired user. 2. Setpoint Preset button: When this is pressed the setpoint is set to a value which has been preset in the controller, for example, 20°C. The microcontroller 2 or 12 sends to the sounder instructions for a single tone burst of a duration longer than the single tone bursts or the Increase/Decrease sequences. The setpoint is set to the Preset value and this value is displayed. The controller 2 or 12 has means to alter this Preset value which is normally a value fixed at installation time and altered very infrequently as it would have to be remembered by the visually-impaired user. Figure 3 shows a time diagram of an example burst. 3. Setpoint Inquiry button: If the setpoint is equal to the preset value, the microcontroller 2 or 12 sends instructions for a long tone burst (of the same length as the Preset button tone burst) followed by a single short tone burst. Figure 4a shows a time diagram of an example sequence. If the setpoint is greater than the present value, the microcontroller 2 or 12 sends instructions for a long tone burst followed by a series of tone burst sequences, each one the same as the Increase Setpoint sequence. The number of sequences would represent the number of 0.5 degrees above the Preset value. For example, if the setpoint is 21.5°C and the preset value is 20°C the sounder 3 and 13 emits the long burst followed by three "Increase" burst sequences . Figure 4b shows a timing diagram of an example sequence. If the setpoint is less than the preset value, the microcontroller 2 and 12 sends instructions for a long tone burst followed by a series of tone burst sequence each one the same as the Decrease Setpoint sequence. The number of sequences would represent the number of 0.5 degrees below the Preset value. For example, if the setpoint is 18.5°C and the preset value is 20°C, the sounder 3 and 13 would emit the long burst followed by three "Decrease" burst sequences. Figure 4c shows a timing diagram of an example sequence. The described arrangement provides a low-cost way of providing complex and detailed information in compact sequences which are readily-understandable. It avoids the need of a costly voice synthesizer chip and associated electronics. The described arrangement can be modified to satisfy particular circumstances, for example the increments can be in which degrees rather than half-degrees, or a sequence of tone bursts indicating a setpoint change can consist of more than two tones of differing frequency. Clearly, some of the sequences need not rely on differing frequencies, for example in one situation the sequences may all have tones of the same frequency, but differing in length, and/or the number of sounds, and/or their time separation. In a particularly simple form, a Setpoint Increase sequence may be a single long tone and the Setpoint Decrease sequence may be a single short tone. Such arrangements are particularly suited to accommodate people who have difficulty in distinguishing between sounds of different frequency.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for inputting instructions to a temperature and/or humidity control system, the apparatus comprising at least one button means to input instructions to the control system, characterised by means to emit a plurality of different substantially mono-frequency sounds and means to output one of a plurality of predetermined sequences of two or more said sounds in accordance with the instructions inputted. 2. Apparatus for inputting instructions to a control system, the apparatus comprising at least one button means to input instructions to the control system, characterised by means to emit a plurality of different substantially mono-frequency sounds and means to output one of a plurality of predetermined sequences of two or more said sounds in accordance with the instructions inputted. 3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the sequences of sounds have a variety of meanings, some corresponding to an indication of the present setting and/or an indication of a change being/to be made, and/or some responding to the instructions input by answering a question posed by the instructions input. 4. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the sequences of sounds have a variety of lengths of various mono-frequencies and/or have a variety of length of separation between sounds. 5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim characterised in that a sequence of sounds is of substantially progressively increasing frequency. 6. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim characterised in that a sequence of sounds is of substantially proqressively decreasing frequency. 7.. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim characterised in that two or more substantially mono- frequency sounds in a sequence have substantially no separation between them. 8. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim characterised in that the button means comprises one or more buttons, or a key-board, or a touch pad or screen. 9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised in that the apparatus is remote from the control system. 10. A temperature and/or humidity control system characterised by apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims.

Inventors: GRAHAM MATTHEW, MACKIE ALASTAIR D, SKEA KENNETH J, GRAHAM, MATTHEW, MACKIE, ALASTAIR, D., SKEA, KENNETH, J.
Applicants: GRAHAM MATTHEW, HONEYWELL CONTROL SYST, MACKIE ALASTAIR D, SKEA KENNETH J, GRAHAM, MATTHEW, HONEYWELL CONTROL SYSTEMS LIMITED, MACKIE, ALASTAIR, D., SKEA, KENNETH, J.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G09B21
IPC codes: G05D23, G09B21